Courts / Dublin / Report

Former engineer arrested over €600k drugs haul "wanted to make a few quid"

Date
2017-11-23

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Martin Gilroy, a 34‑year‑old former engineer from Dungannon, was arrested at Dublin Airport after a car was found containing more than €600,000 worth of heroin and cocaine. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply. The court, hearing that Gilroy was a recovering drug addict who had worked as an engineer, described him as a "valuable player but not a major player" in the offence. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gilroy had been "less than candid" about his involvement and that he was unlikely to be the ultimate owner of the drugs, whose profit was intended for other parties. Gilroy was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence back‑dated to 21 July. The drugs were seized from a car that had been parked outside Terminal Two, and a co‑accused man was also arrested after leaving the terminal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former engineer arrested over €600k drugs haul "wanted to make a few quid". Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 8, 2017 Incident
July 21 Hearing Or Sentence
2017-11-23 Publication

Why: Gilroy said both the car and the drugs were his own, and that he had left the car in the airport with the key under the back wheel because it was "the safest place" and he feared he was being watched. CNI source report

Case subjects

Martin Gilroy

Convicted Person

Outcome: Martin Gilroy (34) was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing heroin and cocaine for sale or supply on July 8, 2017 at a car park outside Terminal Two.